Burst pipe
Turn off the water at the mains stopcock straight away. Open the cold taps to drain the pipes. Switch off the heating if a heating pipe has failed.
Keep electrics away from water. If water is near sockets or the fuse board, switch off the power at the consumer unit only if you can reach it safely. Otherwise, call an electrician. Our guide on what to do when a pipe bursts gives more detail.
Sewage backing up
Stop using toilets, sinks and showers at once. Extra water makes the flood worse. Keep children and pets away, since sewage can carry germs.
Open windows and wear gloves if you must go near it. Call a drainage engineer to clear the blockage. You can also check whether the water company needs to know, because public sewers are their job.
No cold water
First, check whether neighbours have water. If they do not, the problem may be with the water company. Ring them and ask about local faults.
If only your home is affected, check the stopcock and any frozen pipes. A frozen pipe may thaw slowly with gentle warmth. Never use a naked flame.
No hot water / boiler failure
Check the boiler pressure and any fault code, because they point to the cause. Look at the thermostat and timer, too. Sometimes a simple reset or a top-up of pressure helps.
If the boiler stays off, call a Gas Safe registered engineer. Do not try to repair gas parts yourself. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 0800 111 999, since gas leaks are dangerous.
Questions to ask when calling an emergency plumber
Ask what the call-out covers and how the plumber sets the price. Ask whether parts cost extra, and what happens if the job takes longer. A clear answer shows a straight dealer.
Also ask for the plumber’s name and company. Check their registration for gas work if it applies. You can use our site to ask for a free quote, and we will pass your details to a local plumber.
What a response time quote really means
Some firms promise quick arrival. These times are only estimates, because traffic and demand change. Ask what happens if the plumber is late.
Treat any promise with care, because plans can slip. Meanwhile, do all you can to limit damage yourself. Turning off the water is the biggest step you can take.
Related guides and local help
If you want to know more, read Flooded Basement or Cellar: What to Do and How to Prevent It. You can also read Emergency Plumber Costs: What Affects the Price and Tips and Frozen Pipes: How to Prevent, Thaw and Cope After a Freeze, because they cover closely related problems.
These guides help too: CCTV Drain Survey: What to Expect and When You Need One, Gas Safety: What Every UK Homeowner Needs to Know Today, Why Drains Smell Worse in Summer and How to Stop It, Preparing Your Home’s Plumbing for Winter: A UK Guide and Foul Drain vs Surface Water Drain: What Goes Where?. Each one explains a related topic in plain English.
Need help near you? Read our plumbing help page first, or see Emergency Plumber in Braintree and Emergency Plumber in Bramley. You can also see Plumbing Repairs in Deal, since every service page has a free quote form. We pass each request to a local drainage engineer.
